I have to declare an interest – a few years ago, actor and comedian Cruttenden, an old school friend, was a splendid George Bowling in my adaptation of George Orwell’s Coming up For Air at the Fringe. Overriding this, though, I have to declare a real interest in what Cruttenden is actually saying in his latest, and best, solo stand-up show to date.

Tough Luvvie is not an organised thesis, it’s more jokey than serious, but in probing the differences between his camp, audience-friendly exterior and his tougher instincts, Cruttenden lets loose sparky thoughts about the expectations placed on the modern male. In doing so, he also takes welcome potshots at the trash of our age – our “horrendous political class”, awful footballers and those inane poems you find on Facebook.

He’s naturally funny but he’s evolving here into something more challenging and provocative than some jolly-faced follower in the footsteps of Michael McIntyre.